Northwest Missouri State University sophomore distance runner Reece Smith has been named the USTFCCCA's NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year.

Smith (Garner, Iowa) captured the 2022 NCAA Division II national championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a meet-record time of 8:33.64 in Allendale, Mich., on May 27.

Smith has posted a cumulative GPA of 3.957 with a major in biology: biomedical sciences. Smith tallied a perfect 4.00 GPA this past spring semester.

This is the first time that an athlete from Northwest Missouri State has been named the National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season.